2016 Modular Building

Comments

Looking (very) closely at the photos, they would indeed appear to be new pieces, rather than 2x2s on their side. I think they're 1 x 2 x 2/3 bricks, with studs on one side. They look to be 5 plates high to me.

I would suggest that the corner pillar could have 1 brick wide versions of this, or simply have one side as plates stood on end.

Although they wouldn't be out of 'system', they would be (I think) the first pieces to be a brick which isn't a multiple of one brick (i.e. a multiple of 3 plates high).

Also, although it would be a new piece, there could well be other 2016 sets which use it, and which it was originally created for. If so, it would not be a 'new piece' created specifically for the Brick Bank, but rather, a piece already in production for 2016 sets - rather like the diagonal tiling element is a new element created for Nexo Knights, and then used for the Brick Bank.

Just noticed something else from the picture that shows the back of the box:

that's a single plate depth at best on most of the column. Even whatever the top two gold bars are mounted too is exactly one brick width deep. definitively NOT a 2x2 brick on it's side

Yes, for that column. It could well be a 2x1 brick on the right hand side, next to a longer plate for the left hand side. The other side of the column clearly has more LBG depth, as shown in other pictures.

Given it has got an interior, and it is being made with interior play functions, whatever it is it has to be tidy on the inside too. Whatever they've done, it is going to be interesting to find out.

This entire conversation makes my head hurt (in a good way though) and makes me really wonder if I should continue attempting to MOC. "Let's see, if I stack 50 1x1's it'll create a stable column that will never fall over! I'm a genius!"

It was my understanding the rules of modular buildings is they can't use new pieces.

1) I haven't ever heard of this rule2) Why in the world would this rule exist?

It isn't just modulars, Creation themed sets do not get new part molds made for them, only new colors. But we see them use new parts designed for other themes all the time so it isn't a big deal really. I think one of the designers mentioned it in a video awhile back.

I would suggest that the corner pillar could have 1 brick wide versions of this, or simply have one side as plates stood on end.

I initially thought the new piece could be a 1x1x5/3 with two studs on the side. For each "level" of two gold bars, the normal pillars would use two side-by-side while the corner would use three, with one rotated 90 degrees on its vertical axis. This would require only this one new part and no complex SNOT that intrudes into the interior.

Unfortunately, I don't think this is the piece, because there's no indication of a gap in the center at the top of the pillars. There is a gap on the laundromat side of the corner, but it's clear that had to be the case regardless.

It was my understanding the rules of modular buildings is they can't use new pieces.

1) I haven't ever heard of this rule2) Why in the world would this rule exist?

It isn't just modulars, Creation themed sets do not get new part molds made for them, only new colors. But we see them use new parts designed for other themes all the time so it isn't a big deal really. I think one of the designers mentioned it in a video awhile back.

The Town Hall was the debut of the round 1x1 tile. We can't know if they requested it or just knew it was coming and used it.

I'd never heard that the rule applied to Creator Expert sets, just creator. But I don't watch many of the videos.

It was my understanding the rules of modular buildings is they can't use new pieces.

1) I haven't ever heard of this rule2) Why in the world would this rule exist?

It isn't just modulars, Creation themed sets do not get new part molds made for them, only new colors. But we see them use new parts designed for other themes all the time so it isn't a big deal really. I think one of the designers mentioned it in a video awhile back.

The Town Hall was the debut of the round 1x1 tile. We can't know if they requested it or just knew it was coming and used it.

I'd never heard that the rule applied to Creator Expert sets, just creator. But I don't watch many of the videos.

The mirror in the Detective's Office is also a brand-new design for that set, and has yet to appear in any other set. It is a close but not exact match for the regular 1x4x6 window frame. So I think that probably disproves any notion of a strict rule against new designs in modular buildings.

Kinda surprised that element hasn't appeared in any other sets yet, to be honest. I'm sure it's expensive, but it seems like the kind of thing that could have appeared in LEGO Friends by now if the LEGO Group were so inclined. But nope, they're still using stickers for mirrors in LEGO Friends sets like #41104. Maybe they just haven't needed a floor-length mirror in that theme yet.

The bit about new parts was originally supposed to have come from Simon Kent, one of the TLG's design managers in one of the seminars a few years ago. The idea is that it keeps costs down so that a set can be bigger or cheaper.

New parts can be designed years ahead of when they're finally released. If a part is similar to an existing one, it may be that the existing mould is nearing the end of its life, so it's already been redesigned and the old mould reserved for its more traditional purpose.

I'm going to say it is a new part found here in this Nexo Knights set in black. The piece holding the blue banner is 1 and 2/3 of a brick tall and is obviously a SNOT to hold the 2x4 section of the banner.

This is my official giving up on trying to find a way to build this with existing pieces. :P The last picture @dougts posted made building those pillars impossible, especially with that horizontal LBG plate.

The Town Hall was the debut of the round 1x1 tile. We can't know if they requested it or just knew it was coming and used it.

I think the first set to use that was the 2011 Xmas vignette #3300002.

Probably, or one of 3 Ninjago sets or a City one from late 2011. Sorry, I just remembered Astrid pointing it out as a "brand new element" in the designer video. If you can't trust a designer........

My point really was that just because a new piece shows up in a set first doesn't mean the designers of that set requested it. I doubt the tile was produced particularly for the Christmas set, or any of the others that use it. Maybe they've wanted a new SNOT brick for a while but this, or possibly the Nexo Knight set, is just the first on the market that uses it.

So it looks like the guy is shoving money in the top right washer, and it drops down, appearing in the lower locked cabinet in the bank? What's that all about? At first I thought it was a secret way to swipe money out of the bank, but if that were the case, how would the money go up to the washer, and wouldn't those pictures be reversed?

Yes, it seems TLG made this entire set just to make that pun. Based on the pictures, it looks like the lady is scoping out the place with her camera, then she steals money from the vault. The man "launders" the money into his own account to make it look official (imagine if someone actually tried to do it this way?), and then rewards the little girl with candy for her help. Not sure about burning unopened mail... Tax evasion maybe?

I like how they put stories into the last couple modulars. They both seem to be about serious crimes as well, ha ha. I feel these stories bring the buildings to life, not just a name and some cool architecture. This also makes the modulars a great stand alone model if you don't plan on buying multiples.

I'm going to say it is a new part found here in this Nexo Knights set in black. The piece holding the blue banner is 1 and 2/3 of a brick tall and is obviously a SNOT to hold the 2x4 section of the banner.

This is my official giving up on trying to find a way to build this with existing pieces. :P The last picture @dougts posted made building those pillars impossible, especially with that horizontal LBG plate.

Nope. That's the existing 2x2x2/3 angle brick. You can tell it's not the piece from the Brick Bank because the shield tile IS recessed by half a plate. It may be some clever SNOT-work, but it's not a new piece.

@Yodalicious I think of I am almost in the same boat as you. I just received the last couple of pieces I needed to perfect my modular MOC bank. Anyway it has a Play feature that it can break down the window like the Batman one (where I got the stickers). so my son can have baddies come and break in. the first and second floor are an apartment for a couple and 1 child.

The alleyway leads to a park in the back and on the side it connects to the grand Emporiumd.

It's my first proper totally finished work I'm really happy with so I will add pictures here if that's ok... of course it doesn't stand up to any comparison to the real one but I would like to share...

Any tips in what I can change it into? Of maybe the official one could be a pub like suggested above. Or,2 banks in a city is not unheard of right?

I like how they put stories into the last couple modulars. They both seem to be about serious crimes as well, ha ha. I feel these stories bring the buildings to life, not just a name and some cool architecture. This also makes the modulars a great stand alone model if you don't plan on buying multiples.

Smuggling cookies and robbing banks, what's next? The city needs a police station/prison to contain all these criminals!

I like how they put stories into the last couple modulars. They both seem to be about serious crimes as well, ha ha. I feel these stories bring the buildings to life, not just a name and some cool architecture. This also makes the modulars a great stand alone model if you don't plan on buying multiples.

Smuggling cookies and robbing banks, what's next? The city needs a police station/prison to contain all these criminals!

They've alluded to drug trafficking, robbery and money laundering. Next it'll be a secret "juice bar" and a Ponzi scheme.

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